When we visit our customers for AC repair in St. Louis, MO it often confuses them to hear us refer to their air conditioner’s capacity using the word “tons.” They’ll look at a three-ton unit and say in disbelief, “That thing really weighs three tons?”
If the word “ton” here referred to weight, a three-ton AC would be too big for your back yard. Luckily it is not referring to weight at all, but rather to a measurement of how much heat it can remove from your house.
Answering this question is going to be fun, because it requires taking a little bit of a peek back in time.
The answer
The first thing to know is that people used to use ice to cool homes and refrigerate foods, and the measurement of an AC unit’s heat-removing capacity reflects this. A three-ton AC removes heat at a rate that a three-ton block of ice would, if it removed heat evenly and melted completely across 24 hours. Confusing? Here’s a simpler way to think about it. A three-ton AC unit is like putting a 6,000-pound block of ice in your home every day. Just without the mess, of course.
It may seem strange that ACs are measured using such an abstract standard, but it’s not strange at all when you think about how the power of other modern machines are measured. Just think about a car’s horsepower. ACs are more or less measured in ice power. So with both machines, their power is explained in terms of the things they were replacing: blocks of ice for the AC, and horse-drawn carriages for the cars.
The math
Here’s how that translates into math. A one-ton block of ice melting evenly across 24 hours would absorb heat at a rate of about 12,000 BTU/hour—one BTU can be understood as being about the same amount of heat caused by burning one match all the way down. So if you have a three-ton unit, it removes about 36,000 BTUs of heat from your home per hour, and about 864,000 BTUs per day. The heat of one match might not seem like much—but now picture the heat of 864,000 matches. Your AC unit’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?
The bottom line
What would your ancestors—after returning home from the market on their horse-drawn carriage, chipping new ice for their rooms, hour after hour, just trying to stay bearably cool—say if they could step into your home and enjoy the effortless cool that your AC provides, knowing it does not require moving three tons of ice into the house, bit by bit, in order to enjoy that cool feeling? They’d probably say, “Are you kidding me?” and then beg you to switch places. What do you think?
We hope you enjoyed this little history lesson. We know we really enjoyed answering your question! If you’ve got more questions, give us a call here at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We’re experts in AC repair in St. Louis, MO, and we’ve got the knowledge and expertise to get the job done right.
We hear this question a lot: Do portable air conditioners save more electricity—and thus, more money—than standard AC units? And the simple answer to that is, no!
There may be some benefits to portable AC units, but conserving electricity is not one of them.
So, why are standard AC units more efficient?
Portable air conditioner towers are standalone air conditioners that can be moved from room to room. They condense and cool air, and then pump their hot air through an exhaust tube that can be set up to blow out any window. Their main benefit is their convenience. But when it comes to energy efficiency, they’re nowhere near the level of a standard air conditioning installation in St. Louis, MO.
There are several reasons why this is so:
- Standard units have higher energy efficiency requirements: The most important reason is that, while standard AC units––such as HVAC units located outside the home, and window units––are highly regulated and have stringent energy efficiency standards they must uphold, portable units are essentially not regulated at all. This means that unless you’re using the very top-of-the-line portable unit, your portable unit simply won’t be engineered well enough to compete with a standard unit in terms of energy efficiency. On average, they use worse parts––aluminum instead of copper tubing—and less efficient systems for cooling—cap-tube evaporator coils rather than expansion valves—and are not built to stand the tests of time and the elements like a standard unit.
- Portable ACs do not have efficient heat exhaust: The portable unit’s greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. Because it is indoors, you’re overly reliant on its exhaust setup to pump the hot air its motors make and then extract outdoors, and even then it is creating ambient heat while it cools. Standard units do all their work outdoors. The heat is separated from the cool air and then simply radiates into the air instead of into your house, making them more efficient.
- Portable units create negative pressure: Whereas standard AC units circulate in cool air at the same rate they circulate out warm air––meaning there is no pressure added or removed from the rooms it works in––portable ACs create a negative pressure, which causes warm air to be pulled into your home from outside to fill the space left by the air your unit is venting outside. This greatly diminishes its energy efficiency.
Overall, the basic design of a portable system means it just can’t compete with standard AC units. They are only really useful if you live somewhere that’s almost always a habitable temperature and you’re only likely to need AC a few days a year. Otherwise, you’re better off with a standard AC setup.
Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling has been providing air conditioning installation in St. Louis, MO since 1999, and we can help you get the best AC solution for your house. We install and consult, so give us a call if you’re thinking about home cooling.
When was the last time you changed the air filter in your AC unit? If it has been a while, you may want to consider changing it sooner rather than later. According to your air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO, changing your air filter every month can greatly improve the performance of your cooling system, as well as provide you with the following benefits:
- Increase your AC unit’s life: Simply changing your air filter on a regular basis can actually make your air conditioner last longer. Because your AC unit won’t have to operate as hard or as often to cool your home, it doesn’t have to put as much stress or strain on its This will likely allow you to get a few more years out of your cooling system.
- Decrease repairs and breakdowns: Your air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO also recommends changing your air filter to reduce the number of repairs that you need. A clogged air filter can cause your AC unit to stop working, causing you to have to call for repairs more frequently. It also can prevent wear of the internal components, allowing your air conditioner to stay up and running longer.
- Reduce your energy costs: With a change of the air filter, you can literally allow your air conditioner to breathe a little easier. It will be able to operate less often to keep your home cool, helping you to reduce your energy costs as a result. In fact, your air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO estimates that you can save 5 to 15 percent on your cooling costs just by changing the air filter each month. This is a significant benefit that can help to reduce your overall energy costs during the summer months.
- Improve your air quality: When your air filter is clogged with dust and dirt, your AC unit blows it right into your home. This can cause the air in your house to fill with allergens, dust and even mold, making it harder to breathe. A clean air filter promotes improved air quality in your home, allowing allergy sufferers and family members with respiratory problems to breathe better and have reduced symptoms as a result.
- Keep your home cleaner: The dust and dirt that is on your air filter also spreads throughout your home as your AC unit blows air through it. This can cause your home to get a layer of dust on its surfaces and make it more challenging for you to keep it clean. Your air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO suggests keeping your air filter clean to make sure your home doesn’t build up with unnecessary dust.
Remember that your air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO recommends changing your air filter every month, so you too can take advantage of these cooling benefits. When your AC unit needs a tune up, call Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We look forward to helping you stay cool and comfortable all summer long!
With the weather heating up, your cooling costs are no doubt going up. While you want to be comfortable when it is sweltering outside, you need to get your energy costs under control in the easiest way possible. Take this advice from your AC service in St. Louis, MO on how you can reduce your home energy bill even when you have your AC running:
- Invest in a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat is the first recommendation from your AC service in St. Louis, MO that can help to reduce your cooling expenses. Simply installing one of these automatic units will allow you to manage the temperature in your home when you are away. You can set the temperature higher when you will not be home and have it automatically lower when you arrive
- Change your air filter: Making sure your air filter is clean is an easy way to ensure your AC system isn’t operating harder than it needs to. Dirty filters are the leading cause of air conditioner breakdowns as well as increased energy costs, as your air conditioning system will have to cycle on more often to keep your home clean. Your AC service in St. Louis, MO suggests that you change your air filter every month to maintain the efficiency of your AC unit.
- Check your air ducts for leaks: If you have holes or gaps in your home’s air ducts, you may be allowing cool air to escape. This can render your AC system ineffective at cooling your home, as cold air can’t flow into the different rooms as it should. Inspect your air duct system for any damage that has occurred that may be allowing cold air to leak out before it reaches your living space.
- Raise the temperature: By bumping the temperature on your thermostat a few degrees higher, you most likely won’t notice any difference in your comfort level. This simple activity can reduce your cooling costs significantly, while still allowing you to stay cool by running your AC system.
- Clean your air conditioner: If it has been a while since you have had a tune up of your air conditioning system, it is a good idea to have an AC service in St. Louis, MO come and clean your unit. Dirt and debris can build up over time and cause your AC to run harder than it should have to in order to cool your home. This can help lower your cooling costs, as your air conditioner will be able to operate without difficulty.
- Upgrade your AC: Now may be a good time to upgrade your AC unit, especially if it is older and not energy efficient. You will be able to purchase an Energy Star model that will operate using less energy, helping you to save on your cooling expenses each month.
Take this advice from your AC service in St. Louis, MO to help get your cooling costs under control. When you are in need of AC repairs, maintenance or installation, contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We provide 24/7 emergency service to ensure our customers’ continued comfort all year long.
